Homagial Crown
Encyclopedia
The so-called Homagial Crown, also known under its Latin
name as the Corona Homagialis, was a part of the Polish Crown Jewels
. It was mentioned for the first time in the 15th century in the inventory of the Wawel
Royal Treasury. It was probably the coronation crown of Władysław II Jagiełło
.
there appear two crowns called homagial, which are considered to have been the property of Jadwiga of Anjou
and Jogaila
(Władysław II Jagiełło). From the 16th century, the coronation regalia inventories mention only one of these insignia (attributed to Władysław II), the second was probably cashed.
This crown was worn by the Polish kings during the homage
ceremony, replacing the Crown of Bolesław I the Brave
. It was used for the last time during a ceremony in Warsaw
in 1764, when the king Stanisław August Poniatowski received a tribute from Peter von Biron
, Duke of Courland and Semigallia
.
The crown was stolen from Wawel Castle by Prussian troops in October 1795 and found its place in the collection of the Hohenzollerns
in Berlin. After 1809 it was destroyed and melted down, as was the case with the majority of Polish regalia.
The Homagial Crown was made of pure gold in the form of rims covered with a globe and a cross at their intersection. It consisted of nine segments, each crowned with heraldic fleur-de-lis
, and decorated with rubies, sapphires and pearls. In total there were 178 precious stones. In the 18th century the crown was depicted in the portrait of Casimir III the Great by Marcello Bacciarelli
, painted to embellish the Marble Room at the Royal Castle in Warsaw
.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
name as the Corona Homagialis, was a part of the Polish Crown Jewels
Polish Crown Jewels
The only surviving original piece of the Polish Crown Jewels from the time of the Piast dynasty is the ceremonial sword - Szczerbiec. It is currently on display along with other preserved royal items in the Wawel Royal Castle Museum, Kraków....
. It was mentioned for the first time in the 15th century in the inventory of the Wawel
Wawel
Wawel is an architectural complex erected over many centuries atop a limestone outcrop on the left bank of the Vistula River in Kraków, Poland, at an altitude of 228 metres above the sea level. It is a place of great significance to the Polish people. The Royal Castle with an armoury and the...
Royal Treasury. It was probably the coronation crown of Władysław II Jagiełło
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
.
History
In the 15th century crown inventories of treasures of Wawel CastleWawel Castle
The Gothic Wawel Castle in Kraków in Poland was built at the behest of Casimir III the Great and consists of a number of structures situated around the central courtyard. In the 14th century it was rebuilt by Jogaila and Jadwiga of Poland. Their reign saw the addition of the tower called the Hen's...
there appear two crowns called homagial, which are considered to have been the property of Jadwiga of Anjou
Jadwiga of Poland
Jadwiga was monarch of Poland from 1384 to her death. Her official title was 'king' rather than 'queen', reflecting that she was a sovereign in her own right and not merely a royal consort. She was a member of the Capetian House of Anjou, the daughter of King Louis I of Hungary and Elizabeth of...
and Jogaila
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
(Władysław II Jagiełło). From the 16th century, the coronation regalia inventories mention only one of these insignia (attributed to Władysław II), the second was probably cashed.
This crown was worn by the Polish kings during the homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
ceremony, replacing the Crown of Bolesław I the Brave
Crown of Bolesław I the Brave
The Crown of Bolesław I the Brave was the coronation crown of the Polish monarchs.- History :The origins of the Polish crown are shrouded in mystery...
. It was used for the last time during a ceremony in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
in 1764, when the king Stanisław August Poniatowski received a tribute from Peter von Biron
Peter von Biron
Peter von Biron was the last Duke of Courland from 1769 to 1795.Peter was born in Jelgava as the son of Ernst Johann von Biron, future Duke of Courland, and his wife Benigna von Trotha. When 16 years old, he was forced to follow his family into the Siberian exile. In 1769, Peter was given the...
, Duke of Courland and Semigallia
Duchy of Courland and Semigallia
The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia is the name of a duchy in the Baltic region that existed from 1562 to 1569 as a vassal state of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and from 1569...
.
The crown was stolen from Wawel Castle by Prussian troops in October 1795 and found its place in the collection of the Hohenzollerns
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
in Berlin. After 1809 it was destroyed and melted down, as was the case with the majority of Polish regalia.
The Homagial Crown was made of pure gold in the form of rims covered with a globe and a cross at their intersection. It consisted of nine segments, each crowned with heraldic fleur-de-lis
Fleur-de-lis
The fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
, and decorated with rubies, sapphires and pearls. In total there were 178 precious stones. In the 18th century the crown was depicted in the portrait of Casimir III the Great by Marcello Bacciarelli
Marcello Bacciarelli
Marcello Bacciarelli was an Italian painter of the late-baroque and Neoclassic periods.He studied in Rome under Marco Benefial. In 1750 he was called to Dresden, Saxony, where he was employed by Elected King Augustus III of Poland; after whose death he went to Vienna, and thence to Warsaw...
, painted to embellish the Marble Room at the Royal Castle in Warsaw
Royal Castle, Warsaw
The Royal Castle in Warsaw is a castle residency and was the official residence of the Polish monarchs. It is located in the Castle Square, at the entrance to the Warsaw Old Town. The personal offices of the king and the administrative offices of the Royal Court of Poland were located there from...
.
Further reading
- Jerzy Lileyko. Regalia Polskie. Warszawa 1987. ISBN 83-03-02021-8
- Janusz Miniewicz. Tajemnica polskich koron. Czy jest szansa ich odnalezienia?. Nowy Sącz 2006. ISBN 83-924034-2-8
- Michał Rożek. Polskie koronacje i korony. Kraków 1987. ISBN 83-03-01914-7